Page 7 of First Comes Love… Then Denial

Chapter Three

CANDICE

The sound of an air-raid siren going off yanked me from my much-needed slumber.

“What the hell do you want?” I groaned, grabbing my phone off the bedside table. After reading the display, I rolled my eyes and contemplated hitting ignore. Against my better judgment, I answered the call.

“Yes, Carol?” I answered.

“Hi, Candice. I understand you had an eventful evening,” Carol replied in her snooty voice.

The woman had been my boss for a year. I couldn’t stand her from day one, but I really needed a job so I sucked it up.

“You can say that.” Thank God we weren’t on a video call or she would have seen my eyes rolling like a valley girl. If my mother was here, she’d tell me to stop or my eyes were going to get stuck like this.

“Well, I was just calling to let you know that there is an event tonight. Be at the–”

“Wait! What?” I shot up in bed. “I still have a job?”

“Yes. The charges were dropped, they sent an apology for their behavior, and restitution for our company’s troubles. Also, there is an envelope here in the office with your name on it.”

“An envelope?”

“Yes. A currier delivered it about an hours ago.”

Who the hell would send me an envelope let alone via currier?

“Is there a return address on it?”

“Nope.” HerPpopped extra annoyingly than normal. I never could pinpoint her accent and never cared enough to ask her

“What time do you need me in for the event?”

“Seven o’clock on the dot. See you then.” She hung up on me.

“Bitch.”

Another snobby ass party,I groaned internally, looking up at the yacht.

“Wonder how fast I can land myself in jail this time?” My words were mumbled.

“Here you go,” my co-worker Nelson said, handing me a bag of food. I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t kill me. I’m just the messenger.”

“Kill you for…” I prompted.

“You’re going solo, my friend.” He patted me on the back then hopped inside the catering van.

“What the hell do you meansolo?”

“The guy only wanted you to cater the party. Paid Carol a shit ton of money to set it up. She gave me a few extra bucks for coming out here with you to make sure you got here safely.”

“You are fucking pimping me out!” My shout could have woken the dead. At that moment, I gave zero fucks who it woke up.

“No. Not me,” he shook his head. “Carol said the guy knows you. You two are friends.” Nelson’s slight shrug made me launch for him. He quickly shut and locked the door.

“I’m going to kill you!”

“Why are you so damn violent!” he yelled back. His eyes were on me, but his hands were turning the key and starting the van.

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